Demonstration of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody cross-reacting with public idiotypic determinants in the serum of rye-sensitive allergic patients

The present study documents the presence, in the serum of one allergic individual, of auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies cross-reacting with public idiotypic determinants expressed on human IgE and IgG anti-Rye I antibodies. Sera from rye-sensitive patients were tested for specific IgG and IgE antibodies to Rye I by double antibody. The IgG fraction, isolated from the serum of a patient with a history of previous hyposensitization therapy, was repeatedly absorbed on Rye-I-Sepharose as well as on IgM- and IgG-Sepharose to remove anti-Rye I antibodies as well as any possible anti-heavy or light chain activity. This IgG fraction, named anti-idiotypic fraction (a-IdF), blocked in a dose-dependent fashion the reaction of IgG and IgE anti-Rye I antibodies with Rye I antigen. The a-IdF also blocked the binding of anti-rye antibodies to Rye I antigen in the serum of 20 unrelated allergic patients, indicating that these anti-Rye I antibodies bore public idiotypic determinants.

Demonstration of auto-anti-idiotypic antibody cross-reacting with public idiotypic determinants in the serum of rye-sensitive allergic patients

The present study documents the presence, in the serum of one allergic individual, of auto-anti-idiotypic antibodies cross-reacting with public idiotypic determinants expressed on human IgE and IgG anti-Rye I antibodies. Sera from rye-sensitive patients were tested for specific IgG and IgE antibodies to Rye I by double antibody. The IgG fraction, isolated from the serum of a patient with a history of previous hyposensitization therapy, was repeatedly absorbed on Rye-I-Sepharose as well as on IgM- and IgG-Sepharose to remove anti-Rye I antibodies as well as any possible anti-heavy or light chain activity. This IgG fraction, named anti-idiotypic fraction (a-IdF), blocked in a dose-dependent fashion the reaction of IgG and IgE anti-Rye I antibodies with Rye I antigen. The a-IdF also blocked the binding of anti-rye antibodies to Rye I antigen in the serum of 20 unrelated allergic patients, indicating that these anti-Rye I antibodies bore public idiotypic determinants.

Central depressant action of cesium in mice

Cesium chloride (CsCl) at several dose levels (1.25-20.0 mEq/kg IP) was administered acutely to albino mice whose behavior was compared with that in corresponding saline controls. Motor activity decreased and Straub tail occurred in a dose-related manner. Signs of autonomic disturbance, diarrhea, and salivation were seen with toxic doses. Subchronic administration of CsCl (5.0 mEq/kg/day IP for 7 days) exerted a phenothiazine-like effect in mice, reducing amphetamine-induced aggregation toxicity and enhancing pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. The antinociceptive action of morphine was unaltered by identical multiple administrations of CsCl. These results indicate a specific neurosuppressant action of CsCl on mouse CNS and suggest exploration of this alkali earth metal for antipsychotic-like activity.

Pharmacological and toxicological investigations of Cesium

Cesium, a mineral resource abundantly present in Manitoba with important existing and potential industrial applications was investigated to study its effects on biological systems. Several rodent models of pharmacological activities were utilized. The profile that emerged indicated that cesium is only moderately toxic and exerts salubrious effects which could be gainfully investigated for application in the treatment of certain psychological disorders and some tumors. Its conjunction with existing pharmacological agents for these two types of disorders could yield a pharmacologically active yet less toxic therapeutic combination.

Cesium attenuates conditioned avoidance response in rats and mice

The pole-climbing conditioned avoidance response (CAR) was attenuated in rats after four once-daily injections of CsCl intraperitoneally at 3.0 mEq kg-1 and in mice after seven such injections at 5.0 mEq kg-1. Suppression of CAR increased with increasing numbers of injections. Treatment with cesium did not attenuate the unconditioned pole-climbing escape response to mild footshock. The cesium effect on CAR resembles that of antidopaminergic phenothiazine like agents, in concordance with our earlier studies which showed cesium potentiation of pentobarbital sleeping time and antagonism of amphetamine toxicity.

Aetiological studies on hospital in-patients with acute diarrhoea in Calcutta

Bacterial enteropathogens and rotavirus were sought in 356 cases with acute diarrhoea admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Calcutta. One or more pathogens were isolated from 74.7% of the cases. Single enteropathogens could be detected from 66% and multiple enteropathogens from 8.7% of the patients. Vibrio cholerae biotype El Tor, rotavirus, V. parahaemolyticus, and enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were the major pathogens detected. Rotavirus was detected from 7.6% of the cases. A higher rate of detection of rotavirus was seen in children younger than two years. Campylobacter jejuni could be isolated from the faeces of six (15%) of 40 cases either as a single pathogen or in association with V. cholerae biotype El Tor.

Polyamines modulate phosphorylation and acetylation of non-histone chromosomal proteins of the cerebral cortex of rats of various ages

In vitro phosphorylation and acetylation of NHC (non-histone chromosomal) proteins and their modulation by spermine and spermidine were studied using slices of cerebral cortex of female albino rats of various ages. The total DNA, histone and NHC proteins do not change significantly with age. Phosphorylation and acetylation of total and individual NHC proteins decreases with increasing age of the rat. Spermine and spermidine stimulate phosphorylation and acetylation of specific NHC proteins in immature rats. This effect decreases with increasing age. It is suggested that such modulatory effects of polyamines may cause alterations in the expression of specific genes during aging.

Experimental studies on sodhana of aconite

Sodhana, a preliminary treatment is known to reduce toxicity, enhance therapeutic merits of drugs and even impart additional pharmacodynamic properties. The present study - Sodhana Aconite, conducted to establish the effect in toxicity chemical changes and comparative pharmacological activity, show definite reduction in the intense cardiotoxic effect in crude Aconite.

Temperature- and Mg-ATP-dependent regulation of Ca2+ sensitivity of smooth muscle actomyosin ATPase

Many smooth muscles on metabolic depletion undergo a contraction that is insensitive to EGTA [ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethylether)N,N-tetraacetic acid]. Chicken gizzard actomyosin shows a progressive loss of Ca sensitivity accompanied by activation of EGTA-Mg-ATPase at temperatures near 37 degrees C with decreasing ATP concentrations. Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation still occurs under these conditions when the ATPase is Ca insensitive. Activation of EGTA-Mg-ATPase at low ATP concentration is not due to a pseudo-ATPase, or due to denautration of the actomyosin at 37 degrees C. Magnesium concentrations above 1 mM are required for observing the enhanced EGTA-Mg-ATPase activity and the Ca sensitivity is very markedly influenced by the magnesium concentrations of medium at low ATP. When the Mg-to-ATP ratio (5:1) was kept constant for varying ATP concentrations, activation of EGTA-ATPase was not observed. This activation was not due to the characteristics of the ATP regenerating system (phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate kinase) because with phosphocreatine and creatine phosphokinase similar results were obtained. Thus the EGTA-insensitive rise in tension during metabolic depletion is due to activation of Mg-ATPase and loss of Ca sensitivity at 37 degrees C, a temperature at which mammalian smooth muscles normally function.

Exoprotease production by sporogenous and asporogenous mycobacillin non-producer mutants of Bacillus subtilis

Mycobacillin non-producers, whether sporogenous or asporogenous, possess less exoprotease, but effective exoprotease producers are not always good mycobacillin yielders. There might exist a minimum level of exoprotease formation for elaboration of mycobacillin.

Striatal cholinergic activity during morphine-induced catalepsy in the rat: development of tolerance

Morphine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg,i.p.) induced marked catalepsy in rats, which was associated with significantly enhanced striatal acetylcholine levels and reduced cholinesterase activity. Rapid tolerance to morphine-induced catalepsy was noted after twice daily administrations, the tolerance being discernible after the third injection and was complete after the eleventh injection. With the development of tolerance, morphine-induced effects on striatal acetylcholine and cholinesterase were progressively reversed, confirming striatal cholinergic involvement in morphine-induced catalepsy in the rat.

Psychopharmacological studies on (--)-nuciferine and its Hofmann degradation product atherosperminine

(--)-Nuciferine and its Hofmann degradation product atherosperminine showed divergent psychopharmacological effects. Because nuciferine has been reported to be a neuroleptic and atherosperminine has some chemical resemblance to dopamine, they were investigated for their dopamine-receptor activities. Nuciferine had a pharmacologic profile of action associated with dopamine-receptor blockade; i.e., it induced catalepsy, inhibited spontaneous motor activity, conditioned avoidance response, amphetamine toxicity and stereotypy. On the other hand, atherosperminine produced effects associated with dopamine receptor stimulation, i.e., stereotypy, increase in spontaneous motor activity and amphetamine toxicity, reversal of haloperidol-induced catalepsy and inhibition of conditioned avoidance response, inhibition of morphine analgesia, and potentiation of the anticonvulsant action of diphenylhydantoin. The results are discussed on the basis of the chemical configuration of the two compounds.

Simultaneous traumatic posterior dislocation of both hips. A case report

Simultaneous traumatic posterior dislocation of both hips, uncomplicated by fracture, is an exceptionally rare entity. The authors could not find any record of a similar case in the world medical literature up till now, and are therefore reporting this case with special consideration of the mechanism of injury and the management.

Excitation-contraction coupling in multiunit tracheal smooth muscle during metabolic depletion: induction of rhythmicity

Multiunit canine tracheal smooth muscle responded to carbachol with graded depolarization and tonic contraction. The same concentration of carbachol, after metabolic depletion by substrate removal, produced rhythmic contractions and action potentials. Similar mechanical effects were also observed with acetylcholine or histamine. These effects were reversed by reintroducing glucose or beta-hydroxybutyrate, but not by 3-O-methylglucose, which is not metabolized; hence, the structural requirements for glucose, per se, or any osmotic effect were ruled out. Sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ was increased. A Ca2+-influx blocker, D-600, in low concentration (2 X 10(-8) M) abolished the rhythmic contractions without affecting the tonic contraction. Progressive metabolic depletion in presence of carbachol led to fluctuations in membrane potential with a crest of depolarization and appearance of action potentials, each of which resulted in a small contraction. Many of the small contractions partially fused to form the major rhythmic contractions which appeared at a frequency of one per minute. Rhythmicity could not be produced by increasing extracellular K+ concentration (20-120 mM) in presence of atropine (13(-7) M), but instead a tonic contraction occurred. These results suggest changes in excitation-contraction coupling mechanism with agonists like acetylcholine, carbachol, or histamine during substrate deprivation.

Uridine phosphorylase activity of isolated plasma membranes of rat liver

Plasma membranes were isolated from rat liver homogenates either by differential centrifugation or by fractionation in discontinuous sucrose density gradients. Both membrane preparations contained about 17% of the total uridine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.3) activity and 44% of the total 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5). The enrichment factor for uridine phosphorylase in the fractions prepared by differential centrifugation was about 2.8 and by the gradient method, as much as 11.0; the respective enrichment factors for 5'-nucleotidase were 1.8 and 9.5. Uridine phosphorylase activity of isolated plasma membrane fractions was stimulated 2.5-fold by 0.1% Triton X-100. Unlike the cytosol enzyme, uridine phosphorylase of plasma membranes showed little or no deoxyuridine-cleaving activity. Contamination of the membrane fractions by thymidine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.4) of the cytosol was negligible. The other subcellular organelles obtained by either procedure and characterized by marker enzyme activities were found not to contain significant uridine phosphorylase activity; the cytosol fractions contained just over 70% of the total uridine phosphorylase activity with an enrichment of only about 2.8-fold. The activity of the cytosol enzyme was not stimulated by Triton X-100.

Mechanics of guinea pig taenia coli smooth muscle during anoxia and rigor

Potassium-contracted guinea pig taenia coli relaxed when exposed to hypoxic glucose-free conditions, and this was followed by a second contraction. During this second contraction, which was not inhibited by ethylene glycol-his-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetracetic acid (EGTA) the muscle was in rigor. After development of this contraction the muscle did not have an active state and was less extensible than a muscle normally contracted with KCl. Tension during rigor in an isometrically contracting muscle was short-lived in contrast to shortening during rigor development in a lightly loaded isotonically contracting muscle. These findings, together with the observation of irreversible lengthening of a muscle in rigor on stretching, suggest that rigor linkages can be broken. Glucose removal under aerobic conditions did not produce rigor, but oxygen removal in the presence of glucose resulted in relaxation followed by secondary contraction. This later contraction, unlike that accompanying rigor, was reversed by removal of calcium with EGTA. These data imply that in the absence of oxygen the removal of cytoplasmic free-Ca2+ is inhibited.